RE.5 - Review Allapattah Community Center Project
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT 1 CITY COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRANCHES ALLAPATTAH REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2001 NORTH WEST 35TH STREET, MIAMI FLORIDA (“PROJECT”); FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO IDENTIFY ANY AND ALL AVAILABLE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT; AND PROVIDING THAT ALL ACTIONS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS AND THE COMPLETION OF APPROPRIATE DUE DILIGENCE RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
May 14, 2026
Sponsors
Higgins
King
Gabela
Pardo
Escalona
Rosado
Vote Details
ADOPTED
Motion to: Adopt
Mover: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
Seconder: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
Ayes (5):
King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Enactment Number: R-26-0220
Department: Commissioners and Mayor
Category: Elected Official Item
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") recognizes the importance of providing accessible recreational, educational, and social service facilities to residents of the Allapattah community; and
WHEREAS, Branches, Inc., a Florida not for profit corporation, with principal address at 11500 North West 12th Avenue, Miami Florida 33168 (“Branches”), submitted a proposal to the District 1 City Commissioner’s Office for the potential development of the Branches Allapattah Regional Community Center, located at 2001 North West 35th Street, Miami, Florida, currently owned by Ebenezer United Methodist Church to provide local access to more families and children with life-changing opportunities so they may break the cycle of generational poverty (“Project”) and leased by Branches; and
WHEREAS, since 1973, Branches has been serving the Miami community by providing life-changing opportunities to help children and families break the cycle of poverty; and
WHEREAS, today, Branches partners with families to help them build educational and financial assets, community and hope; and
WHEREAS, last year alone, Branches served over 15,000 individuals through student programming and financial wellness services; and
WHEREAS, Branches serves the entire county, but its current sites are Branches Lakeview in North Miami, Branches South Miami and Branches Florida City; and
WHEREAS, Branches’ Grow and Climb programs currently serve 500+ children and youth through daily after-school enrichment and youth development programming; and
WHEREAS, Branches also serves 60+ post-secondary students through its Climb Higher program via mentoring and scholarships and 100% of Branches’ students graduate high school, and 100% pursue a post-secondary education with 9 out of 10 attending college; and
WHEREAS, nearly all of Branches’ students are first generation college students and over 73% are graduating debt free thanks to Branches’ focus on financial education from K-12; and
WHEREAS, Branches also provides critical financial wellness programs for the students’ families plus the entire Miami community, from one-on-one financial coaching, free tax preparation through its leadership of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, to its Micro-Business program which served over 470 local entrepreneurs last year through business coaching with a focus on digital transformation; and
WHEREAS, Branches also leads the Bank On Miami coalition, bringing together local banks and financial institutions to increase access to safe, affordable financial products and services that help individuals build their financial futures; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Project is intended to serve City residents by providing community programming, youth and senior services, educational opportunities, and other public-benefit activities; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission acknowledges the potential benefit to the community of the Project and desires to explore lawful and fiscally responsible means in support of the Project, if feasible; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission further desires to ensure that any action taken in support of the Project, including the pursuit or acceptance of federal funds, complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including procurement, funding eligibility, and public purpose requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds it appropriate to direct the City Manager to review and evaluate the proposed Project and to identify all potential funding sources that may be available to the City for such purpose, subject to the required due diligence;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed to review and evaluate potential next steps in support of the proposed development of the Branches Allapattah Regional Community Center, located at 2001 North West 35th Street, Miami, Florida within 60 days of this Resolution.
Section 3. Any action taken pursuant to the Resolution shall be subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, grant requirements, City policies, and the completion of appropriate due diligence, and shall not obligate the City to expend funds or enter into any agreement unless and until approved by the City Commission by separate action, if required.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
WHEREAS, Branches, Inc., a Florida not for profit corporation, with principal address at 11500 North West 12th Avenue, Miami Florida 33168 (“Branches”), submitted a proposal to the District 1 City Commissioner’s Office for the potential development of the Branches Allapattah Regional Community Center, located at 2001 North West 35th Street, Miami, Florida, currently owned by Ebenezer United Methodist Church to provide local access to more families and children with life-changing opportunities so they may break the cycle of generational poverty (“Project”) and leased by Branches; and
WHEREAS, since 1973, Branches has been serving the Miami community by providing life-changing opportunities to help children and families break the cycle of poverty; and
WHEREAS, today, Branches partners with families to help them build educational and financial assets, community and hope; and
WHEREAS, last year alone, Branches served over 15,000 individuals through student programming and financial wellness services; and
WHEREAS, Branches serves the entire county, but its current sites are Branches Lakeview in North Miami, Branches South Miami and Branches Florida City; and
WHEREAS, Branches’ Grow and Climb programs currently serve 500+ children and youth through daily after-school enrichment and youth development programming; and
WHEREAS, Branches also serves 60+ post-secondary students through its Climb Higher program via mentoring and scholarships and 100% of Branches’ students graduate high school, and 100% pursue a post-secondary education with 9 out of 10 attending college; and
WHEREAS, nearly all of Branches’ students are first generation college students and over 73% are graduating debt free thanks to Branches’ focus on financial education from K-12; and
WHEREAS, Branches also provides critical financial wellness programs for the students’ families plus the entire Miami community, from one-on-one financial coaching, free tax preparation through its leadership of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, to its Micro-Business program which served over 470 local entrepreneurs last year through business coaching with a focus on digital transformation; and
WHEREAS, Branches also leads the Bank On Miami coalition, bringing together local banks and financial institutions to increase access to safe, affordable financial products and services that help individuals build their financial futures; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Project is intended to serve City residents by providing community programming, youth and senior services, educational opportunities, and other public-benefit activities; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission acknowledges the potential benefit to the community of the Project and desires to explore lawful and fiscally responsible means in support of the Project, if feasible; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission further desires to ensure that any action taken in support of the Project, including the pursuit or acceptance of federal funds, complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including procurement, funding eligibility, and public purpose requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds it appropriate to direct the City Manager to review and evaluate the proposed Project and to identify all potential funding sources that may be available to the City for such purpose, subject to the required due diligence;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed to review and evaluate potential next steps in support of the proposed development of the Branches Allapattah Regional Community Center, located at 2001 North West 35th Street, Miami, Florida within 60 days of this Resolution.
Section 3. Any action taken pursuant to the Resolution shall be subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, grant requirements, City policies, and the completion of appropriate due diligence, and shall not obligate the City to expend funds or enter into any agreement unless and until approved by the City Commission by separate action, if required.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.